Aeroplane.



H.L., A. E. & H. 0. SHORT. AEROPLANE. APPLICATION TILED SEPT.5.1913.

1,128,065, Patented Feb.9, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. L., A. E. & H. 0. SHORT. AEROPLANE.

APPLIGATION TILED SEPT. 52. 1913,

1,1 28,065. Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

4 SWEBTSSHEET Z.

H. L., A. E. & H. 0. SHORT.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT 5. 1913.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3,

H. L., A. E. & H. 0. SHORT. AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION YILBD SEPT 5, 1913.

l,128,065. Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

'1 SHEETS"SHEET 1.

//J 441;". gaig agw gigggmg gsciicaiima 5i Riviera P2 Agipliszaizion file j, a! whom it may ew Be i; knnivn 2 31s.;- Wm ORAUL LEQTN'ARI'; new, anfi HUGH 'ngi sub amt Britain, all

Q a p01- hen brought a frcnt ele- Road Bat"ersea lark in the cm iz-y of L0 don, EngiaiL, have invented certain new and useful lmpmvemeutvi in )l' b.zmecia; 19 with Aeroplanes, 3216i which 1, 'EOHQEV ing; is a specification.

This im'entinn mints to aez'opiane flying: an that figure, and. machmes of the biplane. type. in whlch 221 1 185121 ,GIZQEUUOB of Eh wings can. be folded rwrwardiy in order i11 Hunt amp smws 0:" ihe folding the machine, thiz: the upper and and mm 5L vt hand wings and the upper arid per and A L; hand. wings, he inner sands of trai pert-inn r 1931 am respeciiveiy "4:121":

sani ra nary fmnae-wait: died. and guic M near flue .eir i m'ward finding mm'emen f 25 :ami s0 in'augnil in 2. prsde' maimed p0.

Zions TL C l fiipictivn (sf said nwvemcnm 'aen engaged carriad by the wi 0 H n d d-QYHLIY 7a finihn'. in 1? 0f Fi i, hugging 11f file mar upm5 the cen- Mime Fig; 6 is a m1 ihmugh the 1. iliu strafiing I when f01ciusing a plan- "med suppm-i, and 01 in one of tin struts flex r fez'r t0 Shawn re emvatiun if inc kflwsr righi; 3

= pgjwf" in t" Brit wings ends {Ff the rear spa; hinged tc im mznmmii; at? ihe machine,

While the fizmer ends 0? tin: front spars are, when the 1m; 1a is in posit-km Fer flight W detachady ixea t0 11m fimmewixrk sf the gr'amn n machine 50 that tha tie-iacnable V U unmmrb: 10 farm a snnailrwai'ion fixtm'es (1%? 9,21% fmnt spars 112m wings can be cf the n pcr planes 0: the right and left turned ba amut he Eaingc of the upper 40 hand f0 mg .:11e.ni; srs when the latter and lp'wer' spars paraiiei with the fungal $5 vzmded m3. flying 'pwaition,

portions 21':

ngges mm the .Hinn or w s &-

ring R further the swim mnm'y framework niion them are arranged two cuns'ezziimtiy be formed 05 whfie were is 21180 cur r Ends of the rear mid- 3 2-1 r upper csmtm' ends If he the 1m v sarri-ed a, man Lower Ali c ventral u; s im 9 0f w! tubuiar z-ied bah-wen the amp? die 1) T a center spar 10*, a front lower tubular 9" being carried between the lower ends-of the front middle plane struts 3, 4 The cenral framework shown at F igs. 4 and 5 is braced together b wire stays as indicated. The inner ends 0 the rear spare ll of the upper right and left wings 1, 2 hinged to the ends of the rear upper cente spar 10 of the struts fi and 6, while the are 11 of the loweigright and left winge ringed to the rear lpwer sper 10 of the etrute 5 and 6. Any suitable construction of hinges ma be employed for this purpose; the form illuo trated primarily consists, as shown at Fig. 5 of two plates firmly bolted to the upper and lower surfaces of the spars 1.1 and connected by hinge pins 12 to extension members of the rear center 10, l@*, and through the heads of the pins 12 there are holes, to which in one case are attached the back main flying wires 13, and in the other the main landing wires 14, see Fig. 5, It will thus be observed that the points, where the rear spars 11 of the upper and lower portions of the wings are hinged to the upper and lower center spars 10 and 10*, is such that when the wings 1, 2 are turned about the hinges described into the fiyiu position indicated by the dotted lines at ig. 2, the inner ends of the upper hinged wings will conjoin the ends of the center fixed plane 8, while the inner ends of the lower hinged wings will abut against the lower part of the sides of the fuselage 7 Since in a folding sU-ucture shch as now described it is obvious that the weight of the hinged wings is liable to cause the peel tion of the same to very relatively to the central stationary framework when brought from the folded to the expanded position and relatively also to the required position of rest when brought from the expanded to the folded position, it is highly necessary not only to provide means for connecting the inner ends of the front spars of the wingsto the stationary framework when brought to the expanded position, but it is also highly necessary to provide guiding means to facilitate the uiding of the said front spars into proper a inement. Also it is equally necessary that when folded the wings should be supported and secured in such required position, and also that they should be guided and directed to such position of fixture. To these ends the invention provides follows. The inner ends of the front upper spars l5 and the inner ends of the front lower spars 16 of the hinged wings are fitted with projecting tapered pins 1? as shown at Fig. 4, which tapered pins are adapted to enter the ends of the tubular front upper center spar 9 and the tubular front lower center spar 9 of the central stationery framework, which spars 9 and 9 are carried by the vertical struts 3 and 4. The upper pins 17 fit firmly nuance Zl'ltO the tubular front upper center spar 9" and are held in position y screw bolts such as 18, Fi 4, passed through the tube and through t 1e pins 17. The pins 17 are pointed to facilitate their entrance into the tubular ends of the spars 9 and 9, and downwardly curved guides are provided onjthe with and against the frame or fuselage they do, not overlelp each other but are brought into connection with the frame and so firmly held imposition. Means are illustrated, particularly at Figs. 1 and 7 to 9, by which thifl is accomplished, such means consisting-of forked sup orts .20 fixed to the fuselage 7, below which and also attached. to the fuselage is a. guiding fork 21, F i 6 and 9, the extremities of which are inclined. Fixed to the rear struts of the 'main plane are two rollers 23, Fig. 9, which when the planes are folded. mount the guiding forks 21, while the struts 22 enter between the forks of the supports 20 and at this point see Fig. 8, the struts are fitted with flanged collars 24. The rear ortions of the mam planes, when so folde undue strain upon the hinges of the spars 11 described at Fig. 5. Thus when the folding plenes are brought into the flying position, the connections of the upper and lower front spurs are guided into engagement as de' scribed wit reference to Fig. 4, and similarly when the wings are brought into their back, are thus supported and ,relieve folding position the rear portions of the I wings are again guided into their supports 1 as at Figs. 7 to 9.

Wires or cables are connected to the win for the purpose of moving them from their folded position to their flying position, and vice versa, and such wires are led around suitable guiding pulleys or fair leads to winches. These winches are or may be provided with any well, known ratchet and pawl devices and with brakes, for the purpose -of prevent' g the movement of the wings except n substantial force is applied to operzXe the said winches.

In the condruction illustrated in the drawings, at l 'igs l and 2, two wire cables 25 are provided, oneend of each cable be- ,be operated by the pilot or his assistant.

In the drawings a second which 30, Fig. l, is provided for drawing the planes rearward when being folded, and to this winch 3C cables 31 are attached, respectively passing around pulleys underneath the fuselage,

'and so res'ectivelV to the rear arts of the folding wings to which the ends of the cables 31mm connected, indicated et 32, 2.

Obviously-to bring the folding wings from the fio'sitionat Fig. 2 into the position for flight, the cables 25 must be wound up on the drums of the winch :29, while the cables 31 must be simultaneously unwound from the drums of the winch'30.

When planes having a largechord are used and it is required to fold them in this manner, it is preferable to construct the remwportion of the wings so that they hinge"(lolwn in flaps immediately behind the i-ea-r spar, so that when the planes are folded back, they can be brought closer togather thanthey otherwise would be. The total breadthacross' the two planes would, when folded under those conditions, be somewhat less than, double the chord of the plane. 1

l The outer portion of the wings together with the struts and stays connecting the upper and lower wings therefore swing on their hinges in the manner of gates and ha-re an open posit-ion and a closed position. They are never adjusted inflight tween these two positions, simply passing from one osition' to the other according to which 0 the two positions is deeired.

We claim-as ourlnvention. A

1. nun aeroplane flying machine of the biplane-type; the combination of a central fmmeworlryupper and lower right hand wings and upper and lower left hand wings,, hinged joints connecting the inner ends of the reerfspurs of the said ri h't and lefthand 'w ifngaf to; the said "centra framework toenehle said-right and left hand; wings to'lie turned-rearward from the flying positiou': .untilthey "are about parallel with the cen,t 'rjz i 'm cans fol the termination of their rearward ioldi n g -moven1 6ntf-ntid Supporting said wlngmemframework of the -machine, lding sandwing members near bersupo n theentral framework at the completion-10$ said folding movement, and

means for guiding to'engagement and connecting the ends of the front spars of said -folding win?" members to the central frameu' when in their expanded and flying position. v

3. in an aeroplane ilying machine of the biplane type; the combination of a central framework, upper and lower right' hand a'ings and upper and lower lcftfhand wings, hinged joints coxmectingthe inherends ofthe rear spa-rs 'oi the Said' rlght-"m1d-. left l &Xld, .,flng S tothe geld central framework as for example,

the inner en 3 of'the spurs of the hinged wings, sa d adapted to enter the ends of sa d tubular to enable said right andleft hone. wmgs to be turnex'l rearward from the flyin p081 tion until they are about parallel with the central framework of the machine, mean.

for guiding mid Wing members near-thew termination of their rearward foldin move ments and supporting some upon 0 central framework at the completion of said folding mo ement, means for guidin to, engagement and connecting the ends 0 the front span: of said folding wing members; I, to the central frameworhwhen m their expanded and flying position, and a central stationary plane carried by said central biplane type; the combination of acentrnl framework, upper and lower right hand wings and upper and lower left hand wings, hinged joints connecting the iimcr-ends of the rear spars of the said right and left hand wing to the said central framework my to enable said right. and left hand wings to be turned rearward from the flying position until they are about parallel with the can? tral framework of the machine, means I'for guiding said wing members near the termib on nation of their rearward folding movements and supporting said wing members upon the central framework at the completion of said folding movement, means for guiding to en gagement and connecting the ends of .-th'10l front spars of said folding wing members-to the central framework when in their expanded and flying position, a central sta tionsry plane carried by said central framework to form a continuation of the upper-10b planes ,of the-right and left hand wing me hers when in theirexpended' and-fly ng iiosition, and means operable by'thc pilot onthe machine to turn the hinged wing memhere about their hinges from their flying '11 position to, their folded position whilejthe machine is resting on the ground orfloating:

on the water. 7 4. In an aeroplane flying machine of the biplane type; the combination with a cen lls tral framework having a front tubular up per spar and a front tubular lower spar, upper and lower right hand \vings'and up-w per and lower left hand wings, and hinged Joints connecting the inner ends of the rear spars of said right and left hund' wings to said central framework to enable said right and left hand 'nu'iigs to be turned rearward from the flying noeition until they are; about parallel with? the neutral framework. ofjthe 12% machine; of rojectin tapered plnefixed-to. rout upper :inliowcr ins-being front upper and lower spars of said central framework to guide said upper and lower front wing spars to enagement with sui spars of said central lremework belts to pass through the ends or said tubular front upper and lower spars of said central frame work and through said tapered pins to so sure said pins in position to hold said wing in their expanded and flying position, means for iding said wing members near the IF termination of theirrearwe'od folding more ments and supporting said win members upon the central framework in t e sample 110!) of said folding movements, and e central stationur plane carried by said central lfframework to form a continuation of the upper planes of the right and left hand wing members when in their expanded and flyin position. I

5. n an aeroplane flying machine of the biplane type; the combination with a tral framework having a. front tubular upper spar and a front tubular lower spar, upper and lower ri ht hand wings and up per vend lower left i and wings, and hinged oints connecting the inner ends of the rear spars of said right and left hand wings to said central irsmework to enable said right and. left hand wings to be turned reurward from the flying position until they are about parallel with the central framework of the machine; of means for guiding said folding wing members near the termination of their rearward movements and support ing some upon the central framework the 36 completion thereof comprising an upper forked support located upon each side of the framework of the machine to receive vertical struts of the folding wing members, upper and lower flanged collars en's-aid 40f struts to come above and below said upper forked supports, a lower forked support upon each side of said central framework said lower forked supports having their upper lateral extending surfaces down- 46 wardly inclined, rollers on said struts of said. folding wing members to contact with said inclined surfacesvof'said lower forked supports to guide said folding wing membeis to bring said flanged collars above and 50 below said upper forked supports on said central framework when the wing "members reach their folded positions, and means for guidin to engagement and connecting the ends 0 the front spars of said folding wing #5 members to the central framework when in their expanded and flying positions.-

-f 8., In an aero lane flying maehine of the plane type; e combination with a eentral framework having 9, front tubular upper'spai' and '-a front tubules lower spar,

' upper md'lower ri ht'hand wings and up:

per'and' lower left and wings, and hinged J int connecting the-inner ends of the rear of qaid ieft hand my to per and lower left adapted to enter the en 5 of said tuhular front upper and lower spa-rs of said eentrzil framework to guide said upper and lower front wing spars to. engagement with said spars of said central framework, boitsto pass through the ends of said tubular front upper and lower spars of said central framework and through said tapered pins to mcure said pins in position to hold said wings in their expanded and dying position, mes us for guiding foiding wing members near the termination on their rearward movements and supporting same upon the central framework at the completion thereof come prising an upper forked support located upon each side of the framework of the mn- V chine to receive vertical struts of the folding wing members, upper and lower flanged collars on said struts to come above and below said upper forked supports, a lower forked support upon each side of said cen-v tre framework said lower forked supports hating their upper lateral extending surfaces downwardly inolined and-rollers on said struts of said folding wing'memhers to contact with said inclined surfaces of said lower forked supports to guide said fold 'ing wing member's to bring said flanged collass above and beiowsaid upper forked supports on said oentrsl framework when said wing memhex's reach their foldedpositions; Y. In en aeroplane flying machine of the biplane type; the combination with a centrsl framework having a front tubular upper spar and it front tubular lower spar, upper and lower ri ht hand wings and upliand wings, and hinged joints connecting the inn-er endsof the rear spel s of said right and left han said central framework to enable said right andleft hand wings to he turned rearward from the flying position until they are about parallel with the central framework of the machine; of projecting tapered pins. fixed to theinner ends of the front upper and lower spars of the hinged. wings said pins being adapted to enter the ends of so! tubular front upper and lower spars of said central framework downwardly curved guides at the ends of the front tubular lower spur of seid'centrel framework t? guide said to ered pins into the ends of saw front tub= arlower spar, bolts to pass through the ends of said tubular frontupper and lower ars or said dent-rel framework and i rough'seid tapeged pins secure the lat- ;ter in position, means for zmding said wing members near the termination of their rearward foldlng movements and supportmg 831d wlng members upon the central framework at the completion of said folding movements, and a 'central stationary plane carried by said central framework to form a In Witness whereof We have hereunto set 10 our hands In the presence of two wltnesses.

HORACE LEONARD SHORT. ALBERT EUSTACE SHORT. HUGH OSWALD SHORT.

Witnesses VVILLlA M A. luARSHALL, Fnonnnon E. BARBIE. 

